MacKenzie Scott Donates $2.7 Billion, Says Social Progress Groups ‘Deserve Center Stage’

"We are governed by a humbling belief that it would be better if disproportionate wealth were not concentrated in a small number of hands," the billionai...

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott said Tuesday she had donated $2.7 billion to 286 organizations across the country, her latest round of unrestricted giving meant to bolster the nation’s social and racial justice groups, educational and arts institutions. Scott, who was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, announced the news in a blog post on Tuesday saying she was deeply troubled by the surge in wealth among the billionaire class over the last year. Despite the size of her gift, she added that she hoped the focus would remain on the groups she’s supporting. “People struggling against inequities deserve center stage in stories about change they are creating,” Scott said Tuesday. “This is equally — perhaps especially — true when their work is funded by wealth. Any wealth is a product of a collective effort that included them.”